TexasRxh

So I've had my new Rx450h for almost a week now and have played with some of this tech after reading this thread. Not to muddy the water, but here's what I've learned:

LKA = Lane Keeping Assist (the overall function): (from the manual) When driving on highways and freeways with white or yellow lines, this function alerts the driver when the vehicle might depart from its lane and provides assistance by operating the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in its lane. Furthermore, the system also provides steering assistance when dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range is operating to keep the vehicle in its lane.
The icon in the multi-information display turns green when it's active. There is a hard switch on the right side of the steering wheel that activates LKA and all its subfunctions. Subfunctions are enabled/disabled via the multi-information display.

The following are integral to LKA.

2. LDA = Lane Departure Alert: (from the manual) When the system determines that the vehicle might depart from its lane, a warning is displayed on the multi-information display, and either the warning buzzer sounds or the steering wheel vibrates to alert the driver. When the warning buzzer sounds or the steering wheel vibrates, check the surrounding road situation and carefully operate the steering wheel to move the vehicle back to the center within the white (yellow) lines.
3. Steering assist function : (from the manual) When the system determines that the vehicle might depart from its lane, the system provides assistance as necessary by operating the steering wheel in small amounts for a short period of time to keep the vehicle in its lane.
   My perception of this: Warnings can be steering vibration and/or beep/buzz. This feature will activate when you reach 32mph.
4. Lane Centering : This function is linked with radar cruise control and provides the required assistance by operating the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in its current lane. When radar cruise control is not operating, the lane centering function does not operate.
   I thought my car was haunted the first time I felt this.

So the question becomes, "what is a recognized lane?" While I can't answer all the qualifications, the manual does give a bunch of caveats and some descriptions. It says the lane markers must be white or yellow. It does not say they have to be bright. I have noticed that it also recognizes lane definition even when there is no stripe, but there is a curb or barrier present.

If you have the HUD you can tell when it recognizes a lane by the lane markers displayed in the HUD (for me just above the hybrid info, middle center). When a lane is recognized the 2 lane markings are solid white. When either is not recognized (or your speed falls below 32mph) the solid white turns to a white outline (black in the center of the white line/box). As you cross a lane and trip LDA that lane marker turns orange, flashes/blinks and trips the features described above (if you have them enabled). (see p297) Without HUD the multi-information display shows essentially the same info.

My perception: Lane centering feels a bit aggressive.
All of this is explained in great detail in the Owners Manual section 4-5. Using the driving support systems (starting on p292 of my downloaded manual). Note the PAGES of disclaimers, warnings and exceptions.

Whew! Hope that makes sense!

toyotaman7

I have a Canadian model with everything that Lexus made available in Canada. Unfortunately they disabled the Lane Centering and All speed Radar in Canada. Our cars only have the Lane Departure Alert with steering assist and Radar down to 32 mph.

Based on that, I think the system is kind of okay, but not really worth the $,$$$ they charge for it.

It reminds you when you get close to a lane and gives it a notch which is decent.

GaryBowler

Just picked up my new 2016 Lexus RX 450h - learning all the features (purchased them all!) but can't get a clear understanding of the difference between PCS and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control - any place I can search for an explanation that dumbs it down? Thanks!

Curryolla

PCS and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control are related because they use the same millimeter-wave radar and camera to function.

According to Toyota: (http://corporatenews.pressroom.toyot...?view_id=32573)

Pedestrian Pre-collision System
This system uses millimeter-wave radar and a camera to help detect pedestrians in certain conditions in addition to vehicles. To help prevent or mitigate collisions, the system activates an audio and visual alert in addition to brake assist, followed by automated braking if the driver does not brake in a set time. Automated braking operates at relative speeds of between 7- 50 mph for potential collisions with pedestrians, and can reduce speed by approximately 19 mph. For potential collisions with vehicles, the enhanced PCS system included with the [Lexus Safety System +] package operates at relative speeds of between 7 mph and the vehicle's top speed, reducing speed by approximately 25 mph.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
On highways, Radar Cruise Control uses millimeter-wave radar to detect preceding vehicles and determine their speed. It then is designed to adjust vehicle speed (within a set range) to help maintain a pre-set distance between vehicles. By using a forward-facing camera and millimeter-wave radar to monitor vehicles merging into or out of the lane, Radar Cruise Control helps maintain smooth acceleration and deceleration while driving.

Check out this video:

coolsaber

1st Please RTFM! It holds the answers to almost every question
2nd: The bold, thats the simple difference. Pre-Collision operates always between that range and acts as your monitor for detecting pedestrians and other objects and then hits the brakes (simple answer, more detailed can be found in your manual). However DRCC is a more advanced cruise control for highway speeds. However you cannot set DRCC at say traffic crawl speeds, it wont engage. IT can however be set at 60 mph, then due to traffic slow down to a halt, and then resume. In the process the FCW+PD will actively try to make you avoid the car in front.

GaryBowler

Thanks! Greatly appreciated. Mine appears not to be operational, so I'll go tot he dealership shortly.

All the best,
Gary

coolsaber

Dont want to ask, but how did you figure out PCS was not working?

kitlz

Gary, I'd suggest you get in touch with the Tech Specialist at the dealer for a detailed explanation about PCS and DRCC. Good luck.

With that, I'm merging this with another existing thread in the main 4RX forum. We have an ongoing discussion about Lexus Safety System+ of which PCS and DRCC are included. These features are also not hybrid specific.

StillCreek

no. separate setting.
More concerning: I find that my car oscillates like a pendulum left and right when in lane centering mode to a degree that it will get so bad that it jumps lanes, especially if even a slight curve in road occurs. played with sensitivity to no avail. purchased 6 weeks ago, 5.5k mostly highway miles and tested many times (with hands off wheel but safely ready to grab hold and have had to). Can't see Lexus close to producing a driverless car with this lack of control.

jackgong

I have the exact the same issue. Mine is shifting to the right first most of the time, then once it hits the right lane, it bounces back. The left side seems more sensitive, before it hits the left lane it bounces back. Took the car to dealer, they did some calibration on the camera and steering wheel but not help much. Plan to bring it up again next month at the 5k miles service.

mcomer

Go into settings, right steering wheel spoke - menu, then left side of the arrow pad, select LKA tab with center
white dot button and scroll down to sensitivity. Change it to high from default standard. This will lessen
the pendulum effect by intervening sooner but acting less dramatically.

naplesam

I just turned Lane Centering off. Found it annoying. All other aspects seem fine, but this one needs lots of work.

aznkorboi

Tried this on the long 5 freeway.

Works well on straight always and slight curves. Anything more and it won't do well.

Sometimes it will want to go very close to the right side and if there is a car close to the left side lane next to you it makes it very uncomfortable.

Steering assist helps a lot keeps me in my lane when I drift

TexasRxh

I dropped my Rxh off this morning to have a few minor things fixed. As I was talking with my SA and one of the techs I mentioned that LCA seems to behave differently on some roads. I live in Houston and I told them LCA works great on most roads I've used it except I-10. It thinks the center of the lane is on the right edge vs the "center." If you're driving 70 (I mean 60!) and you let go of the wheel it dives for the right stripe...kind of scary. It's not an alignment problem because it doesn't do that if I turn LCA off. The tech thought it could be the crown of the road. They were going to have the cameras checked and aligned but I don't hold out much hope it will get better. I only hope it doesn't get worse!

StatCoder

Thanks for this interesting thread. I'm looking for real-world info on how Toyota Safety Sense P will work on the 2017 Highlander since there hasn't been any announcements other than that this will be a standard package on all trims. LDA is a listed feature along with "steering assist" but no mention of Lane Centering. These seem like exciting features, especially, since they are going to come standard. It seems that few people have actually used experienced them, though.